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MUM, WAVVES & SHELVES – LIVE AT ZOUK [REVIEW]

Jun 172013

Mum by Dawn CHUA

It ain’t rock n’ roll.

Well, for most part (two-thirds) this oddly curated gig featured the loud, brash, melody-driven indie rock that I personally get my rocks off to completely. And whereas the likes of Shelves and Wavves had whipped up the crowd into a frenzy of sorts, Icelandic experimental outfit Mum duly engineered a totally different mood and tone. Minimalist, arty-farty, esoteric and pretentious, it left some members of the audience scratching their heads (figuratively, of course) though for the diehards, it was manna from heaven.

Wavves by Dawn CHUA

Now, believe me, I have sufficient knowledge to be able to understand where Mum was coming from, artistically and creatively but that merely reaches out to my head and not my groin. No such problem with Wavves who plunged headlong into punky no-wave feedback-drenched bubblegum ditties with a vengeance that compelled many a audience member to mosh and headbang. Short, sharp and sweet songs that needed no artful explanation to comprehend.

Shelves by Dawn CHUA

Shelves, as always, ever dependable to provide the sugar and the beat, Noel Yeo animated as usual, fronting the band with geeky abandon and it is indeed encouraging to see new lead guitarist Daryl Peh getting into the groove, whilst the reliable rhythm section of Robin Chua and Brian Leery lock down the ever important pulse.

A curiously eclectic lineup that challenged the usual conventions well enough to just about… work. Kudos goes to the organizers (Chugg/19SIXTYFIVE) accordingly. MORE!

PoPTV: HAYDEN “RAINY SATURDAY” [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

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Feb 122013

Good to see 90s indie artists still soldering on upwards and onwards. Case in point – Toronto’s Hayden has a new album – Us Alone – out now on Arts & Crafts. The hair may be visibly greying but the artistic vision has not diminished and the fire is still burning. This sad but hopeful song comes with a video that includes phone interruptions (like real life!) and the difficult concerns of the matured artist. Wistful but memorable.

PoPTV: SUUNS “2020″ [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

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Feb 092013

Experimental-noise-jangle-pop-drone is probably the closest description I could conjure for this new song from Suuns. Not only that but the video of “2020″ will probably give you a headache as well. Contrarian art-punk anyone? At least, this is one aspect of the 80s that has been given less attention so you could say that I am having fun with this. Fans of the Velvets, JAMC and Flaming Lips might get a rise out of this. The rest of you stay the fuck away!

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MY BLOODY VALENTINE – m b v [REVIEW]

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Feb 092013

After a wait of 22 years, without much fanfare, comes the third My Bloody Valentine album. The first three songs – “She Found Now”, “Only Tomorrow” and “Who Sees You” – sound like the band have always been around (which is probably true, legacy-wise) with the noise-drenched indie pop fans have come to know and love. Then we get “If This & Yes” which sounds uncannily like a Beach Boys outtake from the mid-60s (or a High Llamas track – same difference), eschewing guitars for keyboards. From then on, the agenda is to subvert expectations somewhat with sonic explorations of a similar vein (“If I Am” and “A New You”) and foot firmly off the distortion pedals. The final trio of songs (“In Another Way”, “Nothing Is” and “Wonder 2″) get decidedly experimental in terms of guitar textures and rhythmic expression. All of which makes for an intriguing comeback and fairly worth the prolonged wait!

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BORED SPIES – “SUMMER 720″ B/W 沙鼠E [REVIEW]

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Jan 242013

Who are Bored Spies? Well, think of the trio (Cherie Ko, Sooyoung Park & Morfin) as some kind of off-the-wall Canadian-Korean-Singaporean musical venture that somehow perfectly falls into contemporary indie rock space circa 2013. Privileged as always to be slightly ahead of the game, I am listening to the debut single from Bored Spies and marveling at the immediacy and intricacy of the music – sweet yet brash, bold yet amiable – full of contrasting hues and yet dead-eyed focused on heart and soul.

“Summer 720″ opens with a psychedelic rock motif that would not be out of place on a Jefferson Airplane record before Ko’s languid vocals pulls us violently into the present and the so-called retro-wave, where high treble guitar arpeggios provide relevant soundscapes. A brilliant summer anti-anthem for the 360 degree summer nation (720 is 360 doubled, geddit???).

“沙鼠E” is a slowburn 90s alt-rock channeling number where bass chords, guitar riffs, synthesized string attack, tempo shifts and Ko’s swooning vocals produces a bittersweet effect. With soaring musical phrases to keep one’s attention, it’s gone too soon after it begins, leaving the listener bereft and begging for more.

Simply brilliant.

Bored Spies’ ”Summer 720″ b/w 沙鼠E will be released on 25th January 2013.

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PoPTV: BLOC PARTY – “TRUTH” [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

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Jan 162013

Bloc Party releases a new single “Truth”, off its excellent 4th album, Four. As usual, the UK indie rock band manages to combine spiky rhythms, crowd pleasing tunes and state-of-the-art production values with aplomb on this infectious track. Probably, the most exciting gig of the first quarter of 2013 sees Bloc Party rocking the Fort Canning Park on 18th March. Tickets available at SISTIC. In the meantime, check out the official video of “Truth” below and get your dancing shoes ready…

BLOC PARTY – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [NEWS]

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Jan 132013

There’s little doubt that UK band Bloc Party is one of the biggest indie outfits of the last decade. With four best selling albums under its belt (to the tune of two million), the band has also sold-out gigs and has played in large scale music festivals such as Glastonbury and Lollapalooza. With a reputation for live shows that are even more inciting than their records, Singapore fans will finally find out what all the fuss is about when Bloc Party makes its full band debut at Fort Gate, Fort Canning Park on Monday, 18th March. Tickets are available from SISTIC.

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Presented by Untitled Entertainment and Now/Live.

TUNABUNNY – GENIUS FATIGUE [REVIEW]

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Oct 252012

Is this a Riot Grrl revival?

Lead singers Brigette Herron and Mary Jane Hassell front Tunabunny, a refreshing perspective of the punk rock girl chick aesthetic. Channeling the inspirations of Pretenders, Blondie, The Runaways, Bikini Kill, The Breeders and Sleater-Kinney into a free-form punk-fueled rock style that is difficult not to be entranced by.

Highly prolific – Genius Fatigue is Tunabunny‘s third album in as many years – the band is shot in the arm especially if (like me) you’ve gotten a little sick to the gills of all the namby-pamby, girl group retro jive that hipster tweens seem to get a huge kick out of. There is nothing vaguely pandering (or lowest common denominator) in this collection of confrontational, uncompromising songs.

Tracks like the the hyperventilating “Duchess for Nothing”, the buzz-sawing “Government of Throats”, the atonal “You Do What You Want” and the reverb-drenched Spectoresque satirical “Slackjawed” bring together several strands of contrarian rock through the ages (e.g. The Fall, Pixies, Captain Beefheart, Syd Barrett and Pavement) where an abrasive sound coupled with cryptic lyrics provide a superb combination for musical enlightenment!

Highly recommended!!

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DIRTY BEACHES

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Jan 112011

DIRTY BEACHES Badlands (Zoo Music)

What a stage name this is. Dirty Beaches is Alex Zhang Hungtai, born in Taiwan and raised in Toronto, Honolulu, Montreal and Vancouver. His music style mingles minimalism with noise rock, popularly fitting into today’s indie/alternative scene, yet his voice cracks like a lost soul in this modern age of digitalism. On various occasions he lets out his indie Elvis persona and groove, as on Horses and Sweet 17, but the real gems come in subsequent tracks: he channels his best in A Hundred Highways, grooving like an established rock and roll legend; sounds like a timeless romantic on True Blue and a faithful believer on Lord Knows Best. That much said, all for a relative newcomer.

Catch Dirty Beaches live between January and March 2011 as he tours together with Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls.

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[CJ]

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THE LONELY FOREST

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Dec 192010

THE LONELY FOREST E.P. (Trans)

When the first song on an EP is titled Turn Off This Song And Go Outside, it’s hard to resist the temptation to call the band’s bluff: “Alright, you bunch of wankers, I have better things to do with my time to listen to your ironic hipster bullshit anyway!”

SUPERCHUNK

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Sep 242010

SUPERCHUNK Majesty Shredding (Merge)

Is Superchunk the quintessential indie rock band? It’s certainly difficult to argue otherwise. I mean, the geeky singer-songwriter, the female bass player, crunching guitars, the DIY approach and most of all, the infectious melodic edgy pop songs…

BAND OF HORSES

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Aug 142010

BAND OF HORSES Infinite Arms (Brown/Fat Possum/Columbia)

Band of Horses is your quintessential modern day indie rock band. In possession of its own indie record label (with major label distribution), with songs inserted into cutting edge TV shows and a top 20 album on both sides of the Atlantic. Welcome to 2010!

CARI CLARA

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Apr 232010

CARI CLARA It’s Our Hearts They’re After LP/You Better Run EP (Deep Elm)

As a music writer, being offered hundreds of new albums/EPs for review, I sometimes rely on press releases of publicists/labels to determine which request I want to accept. My guiding principle being that I try my best to review every review request I accept. So with Cari Clara, I was somewhat intrigued by the band’s purported list of influences viz. Radiohead, Muse, Pink Floyd, Elliot Smith, Big Star, Grant Lee Phillips, Beta Band.

Cool, huh?

And so here I am pretty much astounded by this album and EP by Cari Clara i.e. Eric Diedrichs (vocals, guitar), Mark Diedrichs (keyboards, synth), Jason Arbenz (guitar, backing vocals), Greg Tudor (synth, glockenspiel, percussion, backing vocals) and Josh Hagen (drums). Why so? Not only do those cited inspirations make sense in the context of their music, they write amazing songs as well.

It’s Our Hearts They’re After is chock full of midtempo, slow burning torch songs that embrace the arcane and arty agendas of post-punk and psych-rock bands throughout the ages. It’s one of those rare albums that you’d want to swallow whole, a complete entity that must be savoured from start to end. Gorgeous.

You Better Run actually ups the ante somewhat, going all epic and gothic with the inclusion of strings and Edge-like guitar histrionics on the title track, groveling in swampy voodoo blues on Neither Weapon and A Hand To Shape) and channeling dark ghostly balladry on the Great Departure.

If you wanna know what genuine indie rock sounds like in 2010, listen to Cari Clara and you won’t go far wrong. Scintillating mope rock, angels would dance to…Simply magnificent.

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THE GET UP KIDS

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Apr 192010

THE GET UP KIDS Simple Science (Self-released)

The quintessential emo band – The Get Up Kids – are back, after an absence of six years. The band have decided to go independent i.e. to release their own music. The idea is to issue three 4-track EPs in 2010, rather a 12-track LP. Makes perfect sense to me. The album has been dead for awhile now. Long live the EP!

That said, I am a little underwhelmed by the new material featured here on the 1st EP instalment. Inevitably comparisons with last album – 2004′s Guilt Show – will surface and frankly the 4 tracks here pale somewhat. Almost by-the-numbers cookie-cutter, songs like Keith Case and Tommy Gentle come across like Get Up Kids pastiches.

To be fair, final track – How You’re Bound – has enough heart in it to slightly compensate for the lacklustre nature of the three preceding tracks. But only just. I’m hoping the band is saving the best for last.

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BAYBEATS 2010

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Apr 092010

As you are aware I am a Baybeats judge this year, selecting the 8 “new” bands to perform at this year’s festival. What you may not know is that part of a judge’s responsibility is also to mentor 2 bands in the lead-up to the event in August. This year I am indeed honoured and privileged to work with two exciting indie pop-rock bands who are very much after my heart (musical) heart.

*drumroll*

Basement in My Loft is a power trio with a feedback-drenched edge, matching influences of Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Joy Division, Blur, Teenage Fanclub et al into a buzzy adrenaline rush. Consisting of Adrian, Zhong Ren and erm Mr Lightning, BIML promises to bring sophisticated noise to the table.

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The Zozi are Naz, Syak, Taugay and Afiq, 4 fun-lovin’ boys who describe their music as “comedy rock”! The Zozi is a breath of fresh air in the S-ROCK scene and somewhat of a rarity as a genuine 2nd generation S-ROCK band, citing the likes of Force Vomit and Plainsunset as influences. Certainly their local flavour rings true with yours truly with songs like Coffee at Fullerton and a sonic approach that embraces new wave, post punk, surf and garage.

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So watch this space, as I detail my adventures with Basement in My Loft and The Zozi in the next couple of months as all of us collectively prepare for the biggest indie rock festival in Singapore.

… still there’s more …

YOUNG MOTHERS

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Apr 042010

YOUNG MOTHERS Come On, The Cross Single (Fort Lowell)

James Tritten (guitarist for Tracy Shedd) has set up a label called Fort Lowell Records. It is a 7inch Only label, releasing limited runs of 500 Colored Vinyl for artists out of Tucson, AZ.

First up is Young Mothers, who already have an album – Arts and Crafts – under their belt, with this pleasing single consisting of Come On, The Cross and Good Swords. This single is an interesting hybrid of classic pop songwriting and indie rock allure. Come On, The Cross and Good Swords possess enough Beatlesque vibes to interest powerpoppers and dark folk energy to appeal to fans of Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses and Bon Iver.

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SUMMER PEOPLE

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Apr 042010

SUMMER PEOPLE Good Problems (Red Leader)

You might say that this NYC-based octet is either a incredibly versatile band or they lack focus. Matter of perspective really. The band wildly oscillates from one genre to another with scant regard for the listener’s expectations but mostly within the modern day indie rock genre. With rootsy romps (Two Hearted People), Cure-inflected new wave (Glossy-Eyed), raucous rave-ups (Broken Bones and atmospheric post-punk ballads (Great Northern Diver), Summer People offers a widescreen interpretation of all that passes for indie rock for fans to cherry pick.

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B-QUARTET

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Apr 012010

B-QUARTET conformity has replaced consciousness (Aging Youth)

How do you follow up a near perfect debut album? That, my friends, was the dilemma presented to S-ROCK’s wonderboys B-Quartet. If you’re a close observer of the S-ROCK scene, then you would be familiar with the band’s wondrous debut LP, Tomorrow is My Permanent Address. In any review, I loved it and placed it in the Top 5 albums of 2008. Read my review here.

Back to the B-Quartet dilemma. Well, with sophomore effort – conformity has replaced consciousness – the band has obviously taken great pains to further develop their songcraft and instrumental prowess whilst retaining the spirit of that heady debut. So, whilst conformity does not contain such accessible instant classics like Shoebox, Boutique or Disp rs, there’s no denying that the band has moved on the next level in their pursuit of a musical excellence that goes beyond mere aping of their favorite indie bands.

There are no clear standouts on conformity (though I confess a fondness for a dull taste on my tongue and still homeless), yet the quality is uniformly consistent and it may be more of a slow burner (i.e. would require several plays before fully appreciating its depth) but I am impressed by the band’s commitment to the music rather than pandering the vagaries of the average indie rock fan’s tastebuds. The mark of true artists.

Musically, references abound to many varied sources e.g. Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Jaga Jazzist, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, XTC, Steely Dan and much much more. For those who know their music, the above list certainly suggests a trippy sonic experience for those discerning enough to pick up this challenging and ambitious S-ROCK album.

B-Quartet will be launching conformity has replaced consciousness at the Esplanade Recital Studio on 11th April at 9.30pm. Tickets available from SISTIC.

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WYE OAK

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Mar 262010

WYE OAK My Neighbour/My Creator (Merge)

Composed of Andy Stack (drums, keyboards, backup vocals) and Jenn Wasner (vocals, guitars), Wye Oak deals in an all-inclusive brand of indie-folk that ties together diverse strands of sounds, styles and genres to produce an exciting and vibrant repertoire, which is uniquely their own.

On this five-track EP, alchemical musical ideas explode from the off, with the Fleet Foxes-channeling My Neighbour as acoustic guitars collide with electronic sounds, the frenetic and pulsating Emmylou (reminiscent of Stars), the fragile balladic My Creator, the grimy pop of I Hope You Die and producer Mickey Freeland’s remix (which includes a rap, oddly enough) of That I Do (from previous LP, The Knot), all strong evidence of Wye Oak’s talent and creative powers.

Wye Oak is adept at throwing the listener curve balls when it comes to instrumental & arrangement choices, surprising even the most jaded music lover at every turn. With strong melodies and heartfelt lyrics, this EP clearly stands out as one of the premier indie releases of the year. Highly recommended.

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SWEET APPLE

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Mar 252010

SWEET APPLE Love & Desperation (Tee Pee)

Distilling all that is strange and wonderful about rock music into sublime three chord nuggets that sound fresh yet familiar is the achievement of indie rock uber-group Sweet Apple.

Consisting of Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis (drums, guitars & vocals), Cobra Vedre’s John Petrovic (vocals & guitar) and Tim Parnin (guitars & vocals) and Witch’s Dave Sweetapple (bass & vocals), Sweet Apple cover as wide a range of rock approaches as possible with nods to slacker rock (I’ve Got A Feeling), Southern rock (It’s Over Now), psychedelic blues (Hold Me, I’m Dying), stoner rock (Blindfold), fragile melancholy rock (Dead Moon), blues rock (Crawling Over Bodies) and cock rock (Never Came).

By now, I think you get the picture – Love & Desperation is every true rockers’ wet dream. Let it be yours.

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EXTRA LIFE

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Mar 012010

EXTRA LIFE Made Flesh (Loaf Recordings)

Brooklyn’s cracking music scene is no stranger to the zany cross-pollination of myriad soundscapes and influences. So it’s pretty much a given that the smugly inventive and wildly distinctive Extra Life (no bloody reference to video games) hail from there. Formed in 2007, the indie experimental quintet comprises head shrinker Charlie Looker (composer-guitarist-vocalist who was a core member of legendary brutal chamber sextet Zs), violinist Caley Monahon-Ward (Snowblink), bassist Anthony Gedrich (Stats, Ocrilim), drummer Nicholas Podgurski (Yukon), and saxophonist/keyboardist Travis Laplante (Little Women).

If John Coltrane, Morrissey, Philip Glass, Swans, Converge and a couple of chanting Benedictine monks were all jamming together in the same fucking studio, the cacophony could rival the strange aural panache created by the classically trained Looker and his tight posse in Made Flesh, their sophomore album.

Building on the critical success of Secular Works, their debut album in 2008, the latest album is a contradiction that somehow sounds more unnervingly visceral while being more accessible compared to their earlier material. Helmed by art-metal producer Colin Martson and Monahon-Ward, the eight track album fuses wryly soulful acoustic ballads and bleakly heavy industrialcore dissonance which explores heady themes of power, masculinity, lust, death and spirituality.

My standout tracks in this 38 minutes sonic assault were Black Hoodie and the epic finale The Body Is True. Black Hoodie led by Looker’s cherubic vocals and accompanied by soothing lullablysque melodies, was an infectious indie pop ditty paying homage to the humble shroud that emo kids seek refuge in. The schizophrenic 11 minute doomantia lament The Body Is True, was the perfect juxtaposition of polished choirboyish vocals, dramatic chamber acoustics with feral rhythm section, smatter of psychedelic glitches and climaxes with gang vocals ala Converge’s Wretched World .

(PJ Benjamin)

Extra Life’s Made Flesh from Loaf Recordings will be released on March 2010. For more details, visit http://www.l-o-a-f.com/.

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HUMPBACK OAK

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Feb 282010

HUMPBACK OAK Oaksongs (Self-released)

It has been annoying me no end that so many young musicians in Singapore have not heard of Humpback Oak. Not even my aspiring singer-songwriters. Well, its not their fault as until yesterday, the three Humpback Oak albums – Pain-stained Morning, Ghostfather and SideASideB – have all been out-of-print and the record label that released them, now defunct.

Well, I’m happy to report that in order to remedy this imperfect situation, the band has self-released (and self-assembled) this wonderful 4-disc retrospective boxset which includes the aforementioned LPs as well as a disc of rare tracks from their early “demo” cassettes (presented in mp3 format). I braved the extreme heat today to pick up my copy (No. 161/500) and it has definitely worth the time, money & effort.

The sound on the discs is immaculate, even the rarities come across well – maybe even better than how they first sounded on cassette! – and the sheer wealth of material here is staggering. Also included, the band’s earnest attempts to cover Dylan e.g. Like A Rolling Stone, If Not For You and of course, one of my favourite S-ROCK songs – Twang Bar Kings’ Daddy in the Lift – with Leslie Low still on helium (and you can also find the song on +65 Indie Underground compilation).

More than a mere exercise in nostalgia, Oaksongs is positive proof of the eminent worth of S-ROCK’s special 90s revival and a milestone in the musical history of our island nation. Not since the early days of independance did our rock and pop music reflect the creative and artistic edge that Singaporeans are capable of, like the 90s. If there’s anything to be nationalistic or patriotic about our country, it is the fact that Humpback Oak is/was one of our very own – to treasure and to proclaim and yes, to enjoy…

Apart from the fine music – the band has spared no effort in making Oaksongs a complete experience for its admirers. Thus, the boxset design is something you have to savour in 3-D (though the pix look cool, huh?) and over at the band’s official site, even newbies will be treated to tons of information to pick through and devour. Oaksongs surely qualifies as one of the best retrospective collections anywhere.

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+65 INDIE UNDERGROUND

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Feb 062010

+65 Indie Underground, the essential 3-CD retrospective of the S-ROCK scene from 1980s to present day (with greater emphasis on the 90s revival) is now available online at getupmerch.com.

Now, why is this CD set “essential”? Well, whether you’re Singaporean or not, the CD set contains 50 tracks covering a wide range of genres and styles, and I’m certain that there’s something for everyone here.

I have been listening to rock & pop music of every ilk for the past 30 years and a serious music reviewer for the last 20, so I believe that I’m qualified to make the following assertions. The music on +65 Indie Underground is as good as anything that passes for “indie/alt-rock” coming out of the USA, UK or Europe.

Definitely, of our current bands, the likes of A Vacant Affair, Great Spy Experiment, I Am David Sparkle, the Observatory, Lunarin, B-Quartet and Electrico would be able to hold their own. For our classic 90s revival outfits, the music of Force Vomit, Livonia, Plainsunset, Sugarflies, Stoned Revivals, Etc, Concave Scream, Stompin’ Ground, Humpback Oak, the Oddfellows, Padres and Zircon Lounge have stood the test of time. Well, I dare anyone to make a case against these assertions. Go ahead, I’ll be waiting…

But if you’re a S-ROCK musician (singer, songwriter, band member, whatever) then, it would be criminal for you not to possess a copy of +65 Indie Underground. This is not mere hyperbole. I have been speaking to several young musicians and they have absolutely no clue about the aforementioned 90s bands. Which is why this retrospective is so essential not only for those of us who lived through those heady times and are feeling nostaglic for the good ol’ days but music lovers everywhere needs to know (and acknowledge) the power of S-ROCK!

Okay, enough preaching. Go and get hold of +65 Indie Underground NOW!!!

RADAR BROS

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Feb 032010

RADAR BROS. The Illustrated Garden (Merge)

The Radar Bros. are probably the quintessential 90s alt-rock band. Having released 5 albums (before The Illustrated Garden), they have distilled the Pixies-Flaming Lips-Dream Syndicate vibe perfectly. Y’know, equal parts country-folk and psychedelic rock. Throw in copious amounts of the inspirations of Neil Young and Pink Floyd and voila! The Illustrated Garden!

I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the hip and cool factor of the above references is high. And the songs on The Illustrated Garden bear this out as well. There is a weathered feel about the melodies and angular shape to the arrangements which strikes a fine balance between the classic and indie rock genres.

Highlights include the world-weary The Headlights, the obtuse and edgy Rainbow, the whacked out bluesy Quarry, the Syd Barrett-channeling People.

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TWIN TIGERS

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Jan 242010

TWIN TIGERS Gray Waves (Old Flame)

I’ll make matters clear before I proceed: I’ve never really been much of a fan of indie music’s so called lo-fi chic, which to me just sounds like an excuse for bad production and awful mixing. Granted, I’m no audiophile, but the blood in me just boils when I hear a record like Athenian four-piece Twin Tigers’ full length debut album, Gray Waves. Because there’s no two ways around it: the record sounds awful.

That’s not to say the band itself is bad: their deep-fried, dirty shoegaze brand of garage rock is relentlessly catchy at times with pop hooks and melodies that will perk up your ears. But there’s only so much the human ear can take of mindless distortion and flat-sounding reverb before you switch off the record, which is exactly what I ended up doing. It’s a crying shame because songs like Red Fox Run, which features a mildly interesting guitar riff, sound like they’d be immensely catchy if the melody and lyrics weren’t so frustratingly indecipherable. Some songs, like the previously released Sexless Love, sound interesting enough to almost keep you listening on, but then you hit a dry patch like the effortless boring and tuneless Feathers, and what spark of patience the good songs had ignited is mercilessly extinguished. By the time you reach the ending songs of Crystal Highway (which features an excruciatingly painful, distorted vocal track) and Island, you’ll be wishing you had a physical copy of the album just so you could fling it across the room and imagine you were aiming it at the sound engineer. “Take that, and let’s see if you ever dare to radio-distort another vocal again!”

I can’t say this is a completely objective review—I already excused myself from all such pretensions in the first line anyway. It’s just an awful pity because from their live performances on YouTube, they seemed like such a promising proposition. Let’s just chalk one up to debut LP studio inexperience, and keep our fingers crossed that the next record won’t sound like it was recorded in a toilet.

(Samuel C Wee)

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MUM, WAVVES & SHELVES – LIVE AT ZOUK [REVIEW]

PoPTV: HAYDEN “RAINY SATURDAY” [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

PoPTV: SUUNS “2020″ [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

MY BLOODY VALENTINE – m b v [REVIEW]

BORED SPIES – “SUMMER 720″ B/W 沙鼠E [REVIEW]

PoPTV: BLOC PARTY – “TRUTH” [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

BLOC PARTY – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [NEWS]

TUNABUNNY – GENIUS FATIGUE [REVIEW]

DIRTY BEACHES

THE LONELY FOREST

SUPERCHUNK

BAND OF HORSES

BAND OF HORSES Infinite Arms (Brown/Fat Possum/Columbia)

CARI CLARA

THE GET UP KIDS

BAYBEATS 2010

YOUNG MOTHERS

SUMMER PEOPLE

B-QUARTET

WYE OAK

SWEET APPLE

EXTRA LIFE

HUMPBACK OAK

+65 INDIE UNDERGROUND

RADAR BROS

TWIN TIGERS

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